The 100th Anniversary of Our BBC 2022 UK 50p Gold Proof Coin

Limited Edition 250

Limited edition 22-carat gold proof Royal Mint 50 Pence coin celebrating the centenary of the British Broadcasting Corporation, better known as the BBC. The UK’s national broadcaster is also the world’s oldest, founded in 1922 with the directive to ‘inform, educate and entertain’. 

Today, the BBC offers a portfolio of television and radio networks to Brits as well as online programming and the BBC World Service which broadcasts in 42 different languages. It’s an institution we’re pretty proud of, especially as it approaches its 100th birthday on 18 October 2022. The reverse or ‘tails’ side of these coins shows a new design by artist Henry Gray which emphasises the global role of the BBC, taking its inspiration from the BBC News title cards. 

The words ‘1922-2022 100 YEARS OF OUR BBC INFORM EDUCATE ENTERTAIN’ encircle Gray’s globe, emitted from a radio tower at the top left of the design. This is paired with a portrait of the late Queen Elizabeth II by Jody Clark, making these BBC 50ps among the last UK coins to feature the image of Her Majesty the Queen. 

Precious metal 50ps are the same size as their circulating counterparts (measuring 27.30 millimetres in diameter) but boast a high-shine, finely detailed, proof finish, achieved with multiple strikes of hand-prepared dies. This edition is minted in exactly 15.50 grams of 916.7 gold and comes from a limited edition presentation of just 250 pieces. 

Celebrate 100 years of the world’s leading public service broadcaster

Features a striking reverse design by the artist Henry Gray, which pays tribute to the BBC’s far-reaching influence

Presented in bespoke packaging offering an insight to the BBC’s past, present and future

Struck to Proof standard – the highest available from The Royal Mint

Produced in collaboration with the BBC

The packaging for the BBC 100th anniversary coin had been printed prior to the sad passing of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.  

In support of His Majesty the King's ambition for a sustainable transition we will continue to offer 2022 coins struck with Her Late Majesty's effigy. The 100 years of the BBC is the first to be released by The Royal Mint since the sad passing of Queen Elizabeth and will continue to bear her effigy on the obverse (heads) side of the coin. This ensures minimal environmental impact as the designs, tools and packaging for these products have already been produced